UDA, Jubilee MPs Exchange Bitter War Of Words Over Speaker Wetang’ula’s Utterances
Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Mokaya spoke out on Wednesday to defend National Assembly Moses Wetangula after Starehe MP Amos Mwago called for his resignation.
Mwago questioned Wetangula’s neutrality in the impeachment case involving Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaker of the National assembly should resign.
— Hon Amos Mwago Maina (Emirates) (@HEAmosmwago) October 1, 2024
In a letter to Mwago, Mokaya, a member of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), slammed his Starehe counterpart, calling his allegations ignorant and based on a lack of understanding of the constitutional underpinnings of the position of Speaker of Parliament.
“The Speaker has the freedom to express his opinion and give views on matters of public interest and the exercise of this right cannot be negated,” MP Mokaya argued.
“To argue that the Speaker should never give his views on any matter of public interest is indeed a blatant violation of his freedom of expression and is tantamount to cajoling people into acquiescence.”
BREAKING: Starehe MP Amos Mwago wrote a letter asking Speaker Moses Wetangula to recuse himself from the impeachment proceedings of DP Rigathi Gachagua. Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi has just sent him a response that is about to ignite World War III. Kaende sana. pic.twitter.com/VoZfHVdAM1
— Gabriel Oguda (@gabrieloguda) October 2, 2024
Mokaya dismissed Mwago’s grounds for the Speaker’s resignation as baseless, describing them as bordering on a breach of parliamentary privilege.
In his letter, Mokaya claimed that Mwago’s arguments about how the two branches of government work are skewed and misguided.
He also accused the Starehe MP’s failure to attend parliament proceedings as a clear indication of his ignorance.
“It is noteworthy that this is understandable, as you are never present in the House. Therefore, you may prefer restraining yourself from commenting on the nature of legislation passed by the House, when you have no idea on law-making,” read the letter by MP Mokaya.
“Further, please note the prowess of the Speaker as an astute long-serving legislator, a seasoned politician, a distinguished legal practitioner, an unmatched great leader; an expert of constitutional law and parliamentary practice; and a one in a kind leader with rich experience on the workings of the government having served both in the Executive and Legislature for many years.”
Mokaya went on to argue that Article 122 of the Constitution states that the Speaker has no vote on any question proposed to the House for decision, and thus is nonpartisan.
MP Mwago wrote to Parliament on Monday, September 30, demanding the immediate resignation of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, citing remarks made on Sunday.
The issue of the impeachment of the Deputy President is not a clandestine issue, it's an issue that we need to interrogate.
— Hon Amos Mwago Maina (Emirates) (@HEAmosmwago) October 2, 2024
Mwago claimed that Wetangula demonstrated open bias and appeared to support Gachagua’s impeachment.
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On Sunday, September 29, Wetang’ula spoke at Wamunyu Catholic Church in Machakos County, stating that he supported Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s removal.
“If there is anyone who wants to disrupt the peace of the nation, they should be removed because we want peace for everybody,” he asserted.
On Tuesday, October 1, Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse will propose an impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachgua.
Wetangula approved the motion after receiving signatures from 291 MPs.
UDA, Jubilee MPs Exchange Bitter War Of Words Over Speaker Wetang’ula’s Utterances
